question mark

noun

1

a

: something unknown, unknowable, or uncertain

b

: someone (such as an athlete) whose condition, talent, or potential for success is in doubt

2

: a mark ? used in writing and printing at the conclusion of a sentence to indicate a direct question

Examples of question mark in a Sentence

The team's pitching is a big question mark this season.

Recent Examples on the Web

And what is long-term, committed partnership but an ever-unfolding series of question marks, to which the answer is a sometimes-grudging, sometimes whole-hearted Yes? —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 June 2025

While his durability is a question mark, having not played over 60 games in the past two seasons. —Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

Veteran Solomon Thomas was added in free agency as a rotational body for when Odighizuwa is off the field, but there is still a huge question mark at the one-technique position. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025

Miami-Dade’s political future is no longer a question mark. —Kevin Cooper, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for question mark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark

Kids Definition

question mark

noun

: a punctuation mark ? used chiefly at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question